I would just like to say a big "thank you" to the firefighters at the firehouse next door to my apartment that like to hang out outside when the weather is nice for sometimes cheering me when I run by and the other times "pretending" that your football "accidentally" got thrown into my path. You all sure know how to make a girl feel nice

Junebug that is hilarious! I like to run with a shirt that can cover my bootie. Otherwise, when I run outside the men all stop and stare (I got a little junk in my trunk).

Got up this morning and ran 5 miles along Lakeshore Drive. The weather was nice (a little chilly at the beginning, but I warmed up within 0.5 miles into the run). The trail was a little icy and muddy in some parts though. It felt good to run outside, it was my first time doing that since October.

Rai - I was browsing in this thread and you said your birthday is April 10? Me too!

I think Im going to have to join you girls... I started C25k today. As in this morning.. as in I just got back. Silly me (or maybe not so silly?) I went out yesterday and bought running shoes without even knowing if I would like it. (which was an entire adventure within itself...) And you know what? I loved it! The weather was so beautiful today, which makes me happy because I really wanted to run outside. And the intervals were challenging without being overly strenuous, and at the end I was breathing a bit heavily and I had worked up a sweat.

It kind of makes me feel happy... partially because at the beginning of my weight loss I was WAY too afraid to run in public, where I was all huge and bouncy. And maybe it's because Im not as big. Or maybe it's because of the fact that, along with shoes, I bought two pairs of sports bras that I desperately needed. Or maybe it's because I was too busy enjoying myself to care what other people thought. Either way, it didn't bother me.

Weather is supposed to be warm the rest of the week, which is a good sign for me. Although it will make it interesting, considering my workout pants are the kind with the like vinyl outside and cloth inside.. you know what I mean? Makes my legs a bit warm.. but Im not confidant enough to buy shorts, so any pants would do that. And if I get to warm then heck, I can just roll them up, right? Ahh! I'll shut up now!

i dont know if i posted i ran 3.3 at 10 at night on thursday - it was a breakthrough sticking to an excersize no matter what time!

i was gonna tell you fae - I don't wear shorts (my inner thighs would kill me) so I wear three quarter length pants - mostly nike - I only have found like 3 that I love - it used to be just onee - imagine how those turned out later! they retained smell quickly! hehe

I need to hit pavement tonight again late - had to help out people - right now am tired and groggy - need to work up the will power to run in another hour and a half! I can I can! I need to do abs this time too!
I think I'm gonna go for a hike tomorrow - I went for a hike on monday for 2 hours - didn't run much - was with a guy - somewhat in shape but less in cardio shape than me he wouldn't go up another 2 miles - loser!
B

So yes, I haven't quit and died yet. Actually, I'm really enjoying myself. I did 4 days of W1, going to start W2 tomorrow because I want a bit more of a challenge. (Maybe it's because my body is so used to walking 2 or 3 miles at once? *shrugs*) I found quickly that running is a great form of stress relief. Especially when I have my mp3 player and am listening to celtic music (tied with rock/metal as my favorite lol) Im going to have to restock my collection.. a large number of my cds were stolen when I was in HS, and I never had the money to replace them. Need to work on that.

But yea. I took 1 day off, and that was kind of a forced myself deal.. website says to take a break between days, and maybe as Im doing more running I will. Listen to my body, right? My body wants more! Heh.

Yeah - I did it - ran - 4.8 miles in about 46 miles - doing intervals - basically I did like what spinning people do when they spin - pick fun music - and accelerate with the music for the chorus parts (or stay fast for a while) - I looped this area in my neighborhood 3 times - there are about 3 major hills in the loop - so I try to make sure I go as fast as I can up them - there is one that is very major - i shoudl find out what it's incline is....
ok - gotta do my abs - had to sign on to tell my friend I got back safely!
B

Ran 5 miles today in 56 min and 47 sec. That's a Personal Record for me!!!! I didn't feel like I was pushing it though. However, 3 days ago it took me 58 min to finish the 5 miles. I am just so grateful that I can run. 4 weeks ago 5 miles seemed like such a hurdle and now I am running it consistently. I am trying to make 5 miles my base miles (before it was 3 miles).

I am starting week 5 of c25k today. kinda excited- but i am scared of the 20 minute run at the end of the week. Yikes! But either way spring is definetly here! Azaleas are blooming all over, and that makes the run more pleasant. plus my new route in the neighborhood contains little glimpses of the river and that is good motivation to keep going- I wanna be in a bathing suit this summer!

After a really cool weekend, it was nice enough to run again yesterday, score! Rather than taking every other day off like the C25k plan says, for the moment I'm just taking off the cooler "Wow it really feels like spring not summer" days. Today will be W2D3, but I think Im going to do an extra day of this week before I move on, so I'll do that on Thursday.. tomorrow's looking to be one of those cool, off days!

Rai - I was born in '85, so that makes you older. BUT STILL! . And yea I prefer running outside (tried the treadmill thing back when i started losing.

Yay for Aries!

bida - that's a good idea with the music, I never really thought of that. I should try that sometime... in about 2 years, when I'm better at running just by itself . And as for how many days a week I'm running, that's dictated by the weather right now. I can just say I've been going a week and a half and Im almost done with W2, even with adding an extra day at the end of each week. (took 3 days off this weekend though!)

futurepixie - Everywhere I read, people are scared of the running for 20 minutes. Im looking forward to it with excitement, but that will probably change once I get there. Hope it went well, updateupdate let us know!